DAFT and starting a business in the Netherlands: preparation checklist

Starting a Dutch business and obtaining the right to live here as a self-employed person are two different processes:

• Residence: the IND decides whether you may live in the Netherlands and be self-employed, and under which conditions.
• Business: KVK registers your business in the Dutch Business Register, and the Belastingdienst handles VAT and taxes.

Both must be in order. A KVK registration on its own does not give you a residence or work right, and a permit does not remove your registration and tax obligations.

Requirements such as capital or investment thresholds, required documents and processing steps can change, and getting them wrong is expensive. We deliberately do not restate exact amounts. Read the current conditions on the IND page for the self-employed residence permit and, where relevant, consult an immigration lawyer.

• Read the IND page for self-employed residence permits and note the conditions that apply to your nationality and situation.
• Decide your legal structure — most solo founders use an eenmanszaak; a BV may be relevant depending on your plans.
• Prepare a clear description of your business activity and your intended clients.
• Arrange a Dutch address, and plan your municipal registration (BRP) so you can obtain a BSN.
• Prepare identification and any civil-status documents that may need legalisation or translation.
• Plan your business bank account and bookkeeping, including how you will evidence business funds.
• Map the timing: which step must happen first in your case, and what depends on your BSN.
• Where the answer is unclear, ask the IND or a qualified immigration advisor rather than a forum.

Once registered, the practical work is the same as for any Dutch entrepreneur: VAT returns, bookkeeping, invoicing, insurance and contracts. See how to start a business in the Netherlands for the full flow, the KVK checklist for registration prep, and business support if you are already registered.